Apparatus for sequentially dispensing rolls of strip material



May 7, 196s Filed Jan. 5, 1966 C A. TUCKER ETAL ROLLS OF STRIP MATERIAL APPARATUS FOR SEQUENTIALLY DISPENSING 2 Sheets-Sheet l p /46 d 72 Y u FIG., 7; /04

INVENTORS Cou/vc/L A. TUCKER, L/B/fcx L. Paez/N May 7, 1958 c. A. TUCKER ETAL 3,38909- APPARATUS Foa SEQUENTIALLY DISPENSING ROLLS oF STRIP MATERIAL Filed Jan. 3, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Z2/0,1445 P. MAHoA/EY A Woe/v5 Y 3 381 909 APPARATUS FR SEUlNTlALLY GlSlENSlN'G ROLLS F STRIP MATEREAL Council A. Tucker, Glendale, and Back L. Perrin, Los Angeles, Calif., assignors to Towlsaver, inc., Los Angeles, Calif., a corporation of California Filed Jan. 3, 1966, Ser. No. 518,328 S Claims. (Cl. 24E-553) ABSTRACT 0F THE DISCLGSURE A housing has a movable roll holder supporting spaced, roll supporting mandrels. Releasable latch means maintains the roll holder with one roll in a dispensing position and the other roll in a reserve nondispensing position, with release thereof causing roll holder movement to present said reserve roll in a dispensing position. Each mandrel has separable, cylindrical sections supporting separable parts of a roll core, said mandrel sections and core parts being maintained in axial alignment by the roll strip mterial. Consumption of the dispensing roll releases one mandrel section to move from said axial alignment, releasing the latch means and causing said roll holder movement. Each mandrel may act alternately as a dispensing or nondispensing positioned mandrel.

This invention relates to an apparatus for sequentially dispensing rolls of strip material, the apparatus being embodied in a dispenser adapted to dispense a plurality of rolls of strip material sequentially While maintaining one of the rolls in a dispensing position and the other of said rolls in a resreve position.

To facilitate the consideration of the construction and mode of operation of the dispenser of the invention, it will be described as embodied in a dispenser for sequentially dispensing a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue, but it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that the principles of the invention may be applied With equal cogency to various types of dispensers for dispensing different types of rolls of strip material.

One of the major problems encountered with conventional toilet tissue dispensers is the fact that, when dispensers for a single roll of tissue are utilized, the tissue is frequently exhausted before the custodian has lan opportunity to replace the same with consequent inconvenience. On the other hand, where a dispenser mounting a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue is provided, Wastage of toilet tissue frequently results because of the simultaneous exposure of both rolls of tissue for use.

It is, therefore, an object of the invention to provide `a toilet tissue dispenser which is characterized by the fact that it is adapted to support a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue While maintaining one of the rolls in a dispensing position and the other of the rolls in a reserve position until the complete consumption of the roll which is disposed in the dispensing position.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a device of the aforementioned character, of roll holder means adapted to maintain the rolls of toilet tissue thereupon in a dispensing and reserve relationship whereby only one roll of toilet tissue is exposed for use at one time so that the Waste incident to the simultaneous exposure of a plurality of rolls of toilet tissue is eliminated.

One of the major problems encountered with conventional toilet tissue dispensers for a plurality of rolls of tissue is the fact that such dispensers entail relatively complex manipulation of either the dispenser or toilet tissue in order to bring a reserve roll into the dispensing position.

States Patent O Another object of the inventio-n is the provision of a dispenser of the aforementioned character which is adapted to automatically locate the reserve roll in a dispensing position after the complete consumption of a roll of strip material previously located in the dispensing position. Therefore, the elaborate manipulation of etther the dispenser or the rolls of toilet tissue .to locate the reserve roll in the dispensing position characteristic of prior art devices is eliminated.

Another object of the invention is the provision, in a dispenser of the aforementioned character, of a housing incorporating a pivotally mounted roll holder which is adapted to be maintained in a first dispensing position by associated latch means and to be automatically located in a second dispensing position upon the automatic release of said latch means.

An additional object of the invention is the provision, in a dispenser of the aforementioned character, of detector means adapted to detect the complete consumption of a roll of strip material located in the dispensing position and further adapted to automatically release the roll holder latch means in order that said roll holder may be moved into the second position in which 4the reserve roll will be located in a dispensing position.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dispenser of the aforementioned character Which includes a housing having a roll holder mounted for pivotal movement therein, said roll holder having `a plurality of roll supports thereupon adapted to receive rolls of strip material characterized by the incorporation of cores having a plurality of core elements, the roll supports each being provided with a relatively movable portion adapted to permit the displacement of the core .elements with respect to each other when the strip material upon the core elements has been completely consumed.

An additional object of the invention is the provision, in a dispenser of the aforementioned character, of latch means operatively associated with the roll holder and roll supports and adapted to prevent pivotal movement of the roll holder Within the housing until movement of the movable portion of the respective roll support occasioned by the displacement of an associated core element releases said latch means to permit said pivotal movement of said roll holder.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a dispenser of the aforementioned character which may be readily refilled prior to the complete exhaustion of the rolls of toilet tissue being dispensed therefrom. Therefore, it is not necessary to remove a partially exhausted roll in order that a full roll may be placed in the dispenser but merely necessary that a full roll be placed in the reserve position while the partially consumed roll being dispensed is maintained in the dispensing position.

-Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, which are for the purpose of illustration only, and in which:

FIG. l is a front, elevational view illustrating the dispenser of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a partly sectional view taken on the broken line 2-2 of FIG. l;

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal, sectional view;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view taken from the broken line 4-4 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the broken line 5 5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse, sectional view taken on the broken line 6 6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a sectional view illustrating the movement of a movable portion of a roll support with respect to the other portion thereof.

Referring to the drawings, and particularly to FIGS. 1-3 thereof, We show a dispenser 10 constructed in accordance with the teachings of our invention and including a housing 12 of generally rectangular configuration which is adapted to be mounted in operative reiationship with a wall or other supporting surface, not shown.

The housing 12 includes a U-shaped mounting frame 13 and a cover 14 having end walls 16, a top wall 18 and a front wall 20. The U-shaped mounting frame 13 is fabricated from sheet metal and includes a back portion 22 which incorporates a plurality of openings not shown, for facilitating the aixation of the dispenser in operative relationship with a vertical wall surface, not shown. The U-shaped frame member 13 also includes side portions 26, one of which is shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, and which incorporate arcuate slots 27 and laterally-directed tabs 28 for purposes which will be described in greater detail hereinbelow.

The rear wall 22 of the U-shaped frame member 13 is provided with a horizontal flange 32 at its upper edge which incorporates a plurality of openings 34, as best shown in FIGS. 2-3 of the drawings. The rear edge of the cover 14 is provided with a plurality of securement tabs 36 which correspond in number to the openings 34 and which are received in said openings to pivotally mount the cover 14 for movement on the U-shaped frame member 13. The sides 16 of the cover 14 may be -fabricated :from plastic, and are secured in operative relationship with corresponding portions of the front 20 and top 18 of said cover.

The housing 12 is open at its bottom, and serves as an enclosure for dispensing mechanism 40 for a plurality of rolls 42 and 44 of strip material, said rolls, in the present embodiment of the invention, being constituted by rolls of toilet tissue. The rolls 42 and 44 utilized in conjunction with the dispenser 10 are characterized by the incorporation of cores 46 constituted by a plurality of core elements 48 and 52, as best shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings.

In the rolls of toilet tissue 42 and 44 the core elements 48 and S2 of the core 46 differ in length with the outer core element 48 being slightly shorter than the inner core element 52. The function and purpose of the multielement core 46 will be described in greater detail below in describing the construction and mode of operation of the dispenser 10, and is also described in United States Letters Patent No. 3,214,014, entitled, Separable Core Structure 4for Roll of Strip Material, issued Oct. 26, 1965.

It will be noted that the dispenser 10 is designed to locate one roll 44 of toilet tissue in a dispensing position in which the bulk of the perimeter of the roll 44 of toilet tissue is exposed and to locate another roll 42 of toilet tissue in a position in which it is substantially concealed within the housing 12, as best shown in FIG. 1 of the drawings.

The dispensing mechanism 40 includes a roll holder 60 which is formed from sheet `metal and which is, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, of'moditied, ellipsoidal configuration. The roll holder 60 is pivotally mounted on the rear wall 22 of the U-shaped frame 13 by means of a pivot pin 62 and has a pair of stop abutments 64 provided in its upper edge for engagement with a stop 66 on the rear wall 22 of the U-shaped frame member 13 to limit the pivoting action of the roll holder 60 with reference to the housing 12.

The pivot pin 62 engages the central portion of the yroll holder 60 which has elongated openings 68 formed therein on opposite sides of the pivot pin 62 for slidably mounting roll supports 72 and 74.

Each of the roll supports 72 and 74 includes a carrier 76 formed :from plastic or similar material and having an elongated guide portion 78. Incorporated in each guide portion is a pair of guide lugs 82 which, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, underlie the contiguous portion of the underside of the roll holder 60 and, thus, prevent the dislodgement of the carrier 76 from operative relationship with the roll holder 60.

To further facilitate the guidance of the guide portion 78 of the carrier 76, the guide portion is provided with a guiding edge 94 which engages a corresponding, horizontally oriented guide liange 96 formed on the lower edge of the associated elongated opening 68. Therefore, the carrier 76 constituting a part of the roll supports 72 and 74 can slide longitudinally in the elongated openings 68 and be guided for sliding movement by the engagement of the various guiding elements of the guide portion 78 of each carrier 76 with corresponding portions of the roll holder 60.

Each carrier includes a pair of horizontally oriented, arcuately-shaped mounting fingers 102 which are oriented at a slight angle inwardly toward each other, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings, to impart a slight taper to their external surfaces. Secured to the associated extremity of the 4roll holder 60 by means of a screw 104, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings, is a mounting post which has formed integrally upon the upper extremity thereof spaced, circular bearing plates 112 and 114, which are connected by webs 116.

Disposed in encompassing relationship with the mounting lingers 102 and the bearing plates 112 and 114, as best shown in FIGS. 4 and 7 of the drawings, is a mandrel which includes a iirst portion 122 constituted by a substantially cylindrical sleeve mounted in encompassing relationship with the mounting tingers 102 and a substantially cylindrical cap 124 mounted for rotation on the bearing plates 112 and 114. The substantially cylindrical cap 124 is retained in operative relationship with the bearing plates 112 and 114 by means of prongs 128 which engage the underside of the outer bearing plate 114 to prevent dislodgement of the cap from operative relationship therewith.

Because the mounting fingers 102 are integral with the carrier 76, the substantially cylindrical portion i122 of the mandrel .1-20 is relatively movable with respect to the portion 124 thereof, because the mounting post i110 is aixed to the roll holder 60 by the screw 104.

Consequently, when the mandrel 120 is not encompassed by the core 46 of a roll of toilet tissue with a substantial amount of toilet tissue still remaining thereupon, the action of the spring 92 will normally tend to displace the ttirst, substantially cylindrical portion 1122 of the mandrel 120 inwardly toward the center of the roll holder l60, in the manner illustrated in FIG. 7 of the drawings, wherein the two sections of core have been displaced from alignment with each other by the inward movement of the section 52 in conjunction with the carrier 76 of the associated roll support 72.

The significance of such displacement of the iirst and second portions 122 and 124 of the mandrel 1120 and of the core elements 48 and 52 -wlth respect to each other will be discussed in greater detail hereinbelow.

Spaced, arcuate slots 130 are formed in the back wall 22 of the U-shaped mounting frame 13, and each of the slots has a gravity-actuated clogging member 1'32 associated therewith, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 6 of the drawings. The gravity-actuated dogging members 132 are pivotally mounted on the back wall -22 of the frame 13 by means of pivot pins 134.

Each of the dogging members 132r incorporates a lug 1'36 adapted to engage a corresponding abutment -1f38 on an associated roll support 72 or 74 when the associated roll support 7:2 or 74 is in the lowermost dispensing position, as in the case of the roll support 74 shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings.

In order that the abutment 138, which is of frustotriangular configuration, be maintained in engagement with the lug `136 on the dog 132, a roll of toilet tissue incorporating a core 46 such as the roll 44 must be maintained in `operative relationship with the mandrel 120 to prevent the displacement of the mandrel elements 122 and 124 from alignment with each other. When the roll of tissue as, for instance, the roll of tissue 44, is consumed, the spring tension exerted on the carrier 76 of the roll support 74 will cause the inward movement of the mandrel section 122 toward the center of the roll holder `60, as deiined by the pivot pin 62, thus displacing the -abutment i138 inwardly to release it from operative engagement with the lug 136 of the dog 1312, and to permit `the roll support 74 to -be pivoted upwardly on the pivot pin 62 by the weight of the roll 42 on the roll support 72.

When the roll holder 60 is pivoted about the pivot pin 612 to raise the roll support 7'4 into the reserve position and to lower the roll support 72 into the service position, the associated dog 132 will be initially engaged by the end of the abtument 138 to cause it to be .tilted out of the path of the abutment, and when the abutment has passed by, the lug i136 of the dog 132 will fall behind the upper surface of the abutment 138 to engage said abutment and maintain the roll holder 60 in the position in which the Weight of the reserve roll 42 has disposed it.

'Mounted in operative relationship with the opposite extremities of the roll holder 6G by the screw 104 for the mounting post 110 is auxiliary latching means co-operative with the latching means constituted by the latch dogs 132 and the abutments 138 to prevent inadvertent displacement of the mandrel elements 1212 and 124 with respect to each other because of the fact that a roll of tissue has been placed in overlying and encompassing relationship with the mandrel .120, which is known as a soft roll, that is, a roll of tissue which is more loosely wound than a tightly wound roll of tissue so that there is a tendency for the elements 48 and 52 of the core 46 to be slightly displaced from each other which might permit the displacement of the abutment y138 from operative relationship with the lug 136 of the latching dog 1132 and result in the premature and inadvertent return of a partially-consumed roll of tissue of the reserve position.

The auxiliary latching means is indicated at 14@` in the drawings and includes a triangular latching plate 142 whose outer extremity is engageable with Aa shoulder -146 on the outermost mounting nger 102, which is formed upon the carrier 76. Associated with and also constituting a part of the latching means 1-40- is a leaf spring 148 which is mounted in operative relationship with the latching plate 142 by means of the screw 104 and which has its outer extremity engaged upon the underside of the carrier 76 in the region immediately `adjacent the lower extremity of the mounting linger 102.

When -a roll of tissue, such as the roll 42, FIG. 4, is m'ounted in operative relationship with the mandrel 120, the outer extremity of the latching plate 142 is spaced from the shoulder `146i. However, if the roll of tissue 42 has a tendency to be soft or loosely wound, the tension on the spring -92 will tend to move the carrier 76 inwardly, tending to displace the inner section `122 of the mandrel 120 inwardly to such an extent as to cause the latching dog '132 to be released .from operative relationship with the abutment 1318.

When the Iirst increment of such displacement of the innermost section 122 of the mandrel 120 occurs, the outermost extremity of the triangularly-shaped latching plate 142 of the auxiliary latching means -140y engages upon the contiguous shoulder 146 and prevents further inward movement of the inner section 122 of the mandrel 120. Therefore, inadvertent displacement of the inner section 122 of the mandrel 120 in a soft roll of tissue is prevented and premature operation of the device is avoided.

However, when the roll of tissue 42 is completely consumed, the core elements 48 and 52 will be subject to displacement from axial alignment with each other by inward movement of the carrier 76 of the vassociated roll support 72. When such inward movement occurs, the leaf spring 148 will urge the carrier 76 outwardly to permit the shoulder 146 to by-pass the outer extremity of the latching plate 142 to prevent the shoulder 146 from engaging said latching plate and permitting proper actuation of the device from preventing the release of .the lug 136 of the latching dog `13-2 -from operative engagement with the corresponding abutment 1G18.

A locking bar 1150 is pivotally mounted, `as best shown in FIGS. 2-3 of the drawings, at its extremities on the cover 14 by means of pivot pins 152. The locking bar includes a `longitudinally-extending member 154 and latching arms 156 at the extremities of said member, said latching arms having latching abutments 15S thereupon adapted to engage the latching lugs 28 which Iare provided on the sides 26 yof the U-shaped frame member 13.

Also provided is a latch spring 162 which is adapted to bias the transversely-oriented, longitudinal bar 154 into a position in which the latching abutments 158 of the latching arms 1'56 engage the corresponding latching lugs 28 to maintain the cover 14 in the closed position.

Mounted in the sides 16 of the cover 14, as best shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, are guide pins 173 which are engaged in the arcuate slots 27 provided in the side portions 26 of the U-shaped frame 13. The guide pins 178, only one of which is shown in FIG. 2, serve not only to guide the cover 14 between the opposite limits of its movement, but also serve to prevent movement of the cover beyond the uppermost open position shown in FIG. 2 of t-he drawings.

The dispenser 1i) is normally mounted upon a vertically-oriented supporting surface, such as a wall, not shown, and loading of the dispenser 10` is accomplished by inserting the key 168 in the scutcheon plate opening 166 to release the longitudinal bar 154 against the bias of the spring 1'62 and, thus, to release the latching abutments 158 from operative `relationship with the lugs 28. When such release has been accomplished the cover 14 can be raised into the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings to permit a roll of tissue 42 to be installed in operative relationship with the roll support 72 and a roll of tissue 44 to be installed in operative relationship with the roll support 74.

Facilitating such installation is mandrel alignment means 18), constituted by a pair of lugs 182, FIG. 3, for engagement with the extremity of an associated carrier 76 which causes the carrier to be urged outwardly into substantial outermost position to place the mandrel portion 122 in s-ubstantial alignment with the associated portion y124 and, thus, to facilitate the installation of the rolls of toilet tissue in operative relationship with the mandrelS of the roll supports 72 and 74.

It will be noted that, when the rolls of tissue 42 and 44 have been installed in operative relationship with the mandrels 120, the abutments 138 of either one of the roll supporting means 72 or 74 can be disposed in the lowermost position in which they wil-l engage the respective lug 136 of a latch dog 1312. Consequently, either one of the roll supporting means 72 or 74, may be disposed, alternatively, in the dispensing or reserve position to expose the roll of toilet tissue 42 and 44, respectively mounted in operative relationship therewith.

Obviously, when the rolls 42 and 44 of toilet tissue are mounted in operative relationship with the mandrel 120, the cores 46 of said rolls maintain the first por-tions 122 of the mandrel 12)J in alignment with the second portions 124 thereof. At this juncture, it should be noted that the first portion 122 of the mandrel 124) is movable relative to the second portion 124 of the mandrel 120 and, thus, constitutes, as will be described in greater detail below, the detector portion of the mandrel 120x Incorporated on the interior of the detector portion 122 of the mandrel 129, as best shown in FIGS. 3 and 5 of the drawings, is a triangularly shaped retaining lug 190 which is cooperative with a corresponding retaining protuberance 192 provided on the mounting post 110. The retaining lug 190 and the protuberance 192 constitute retaining means which act in conjunction with the latching means constituted by the abutment 138 and the latching dog 132 to prevent inadvertent displacement of the detector portion 122 of the mandrel 126 from alignment 'with the second portion 124 of said mandrel.

The latching dog 132 and the abutment 138 Serve as latching means for maintaining either one of the roll supporting means 72 or 74 in the dispensing position in which a roll mounted thereupon may be reached by a user of the dispenser .19. This is a unique aspect of the dispenser 10, since it provides an inherent tlexibility to the dispenser in that either one of the roll supporting means 72 or 74 may be disposed in the dispensing position and either one of the roll supporting means 72 or 74 may be disposed in the reserve position.

The roll supporting means 74, as best shown in FIG. 3 0f the drawings, may be disposed in the dispensing position to locate the associated roll 44 of toilet tissue in the dispensing position and to locate the roll supporting means 72 in the associated roll 42 of toilet tissue in the reserve position. Consequently, when the roll supporting means 74 is located in the dispensing position, the lug 136 of the latching dog 132 engages the abutment 138 to retain the roll supporting means 74 and the roll 44 of toilet tissue mounted thereupon in the dispensing position.

Of course, the latching dog 132 is gravity actuated and, in conjunction with the abutment 133 constitutes the latching means of the dispenser 10.

With the operational juxtaposition of elements exemplified by the disposition of the roll supporting means 74 in the dispensing position to dispose the associated roll 44 of toilet tissue in the dispensing position, the dogging lug 136 of the latching dog 132 is engaged upon the corresponding abutment =138 of the roll supporting means 74, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings. Therefore, the roll supporting means 72 and the roll of toilet tissue 42 supported thereupon is disposed in the reserve position.

It will, therefore, be readily app-arent that the roll holder 60 and the roll supporting means 74 and 72 are maintained in their respective positions, as best Shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, by the engagement of the latching means constituted by the latching dog 132 in the latch- -ing abutment 138 of the roll supporting means 74.

Furthermore, as best shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings, the retainer lug 190 and protuberance 192 are located in the positions shown in FIG. 3 of the drawings wherein they are in alignment with each other and tend to resist displacement of the detector portion 122 of the mandrel 120 from axial alignment with the associated portion 124 of the mandrel 120.

When the roll of tissue 44 has been consumed, the conning effect of the tissue upon the two sections 52 and 48 of the core 46 of the roll 44 of tissue, is, of course, eliminated and, consequently, the tension of the spring 92 causes the inner portion 122 of the mandrel 120 constituting a part of the roll supporting means 74 to be drawn inwardly in the associated elongated slot 68 toward the center of the roll holder 6G, thus displacing the inner core section 52 from axial alignment and coincidence with the outer core section 48 and causing said sections to assume the displaced position illustrated in PIG. 7 of the drawings.

In actuality, the movement of the inner portion 122 of the mandrel 120 is initiated by cooking the inner portion 122 angularly lto raise the shoulder .-146 out of the path of movement which could possibly cause it to engage the extremity of the latching plate 142, which would prevent the inward longitudinal movement of the inner portion 122 of the mandrel 126.

When such movement of the inner section 122 of the mandrel occurs, the abutment 138 on the guide portion 78 of the carrier 76 for the inner portion 122 of the mandrel 120 is also moved inwardly to release the upper surface thereof from engagement with the contiguous lug 132 of the latching dog 131i. The release of the latching means constituted by the latching dog and the abutment 138 frees the roll holder 60 for rotation about the axis constituted by the pivot pin. 62 and such rotation is caused by the weight of the roll 42 in the reserve position.

Therefore, the freed roll holder 60 is caused to rotate and the reserve roll 42 is moved downwardly into the dispensing position. As the roll holder 60 is rotated about the pivot pin 62 `to locate the roll supporting means 74 in the reserve position, the displacement of the inner section 122 of the mandrel 120 from coincidence with the outer sec-tion 124 thereof is corrected by the mpingement of the innermost end of the guide portion 78 of the carrier 76 upon the guide means 182 to cause the inner section 122 of the mandrel 120 to be returned to substantial Coincidence with the outer section 124 thereof to facilitate the subsequent removal of the sections 48 and 52 of the core 46 from operative relationship with the mandrel 120 and the placement of a new roll of tissue upon the mandrel 120.

Obviously, as the roll supporting means 72 is carried downwardly by the gravitational effect of the weight of the roll 42 of tissue mounted thereupon the abutment 138 is carried downwardly and causes the dogging lug 136 to be displaced downwardly out of the path of movement of the abutment 138. However, as soon as the roll supporting means 72 assumes the dispensing position, the dogging lug 136 of .the latch dog 132 is returned by its large counterweight into the position in which the lug 136 engages the abutment 138 of the roll supporting means 72 to latch the roll supporting means 72 in the dispensing position.

As previously pointed out, auxiliary latching means 140 is provided in operative relationship with each of the roll supporting means 72 and 74 to prevent inadvertent displacement of the inner section 122 of the mandrel 120 from coincidence with the outer section 124 thereof prior to the complete removal and consumption of the tissue from `the associated roll. The auxiliary latching means 140 is designed to prevent inadvertent displacement which is attributable to undue pressure being .imposed upon a soft or loosely wound roll of tissue by the hand of a user, which might cause the inner portion 122 of the mandrel 120 to move out of alignment with the outer portion 124 thereof and, consequently release ,the latching dog 130 from abutment 138. Of course, if such inadvertent release occurred, the partially consumed roll of tissue would move upwardly into the housing of the dispenser 10, because of the greater weight of the roll of tissue in the reserve position.

In performing this function, the outer extremity of the triangularly shaped, auxiliary latching plate 142 is disposed in proximity to a shoulder 146 on the inner extremity of the inner section 122 of the mandrel 120 and, when any tendency toward such inadvertent movement occurs, the movement will be limited by .impingement of the outer extremity of the triangularly shaped latching plate 142 upon the shoulder 146.

However, when the inner section 122 of the mandrel 120 is displaced from coincidence with the outer section 124 thereof occasioned 'by actual consumption of the associated roll of tissue, the instantaneous release of the inner section 122 of the mandrel 120, which constitutes, in essence, a detector means which detects the consumption of the roll of tissue associated therewith, is suiicient to cause the spring 148 'to displace the inner section 122 outwardly toward the outer section 124 of the mandrel 120 and, consequently, cause the shoulder 146 to by-pass the outer extremity of the latching plate 142.

In order to replace a roll of tissue which has been consumed, it is merely necessary to open the cover 14 to the position shown in FIG. 2 of the drawings, wherein the empty mandrel is exposed to facilitate removal of the core 46 from operative relationship therewith and to permit a fresh roll to be placed thereupon.

One of the significant aspects of the invention made herein is that there is no necessity to transfer a partially used roll from one mandrel to the other, since the mandrels can be easily disposed, Ialternatively, in the dispensing position. Therefore, a great deal of time customarily involved in janitorial service is saved and, also the possible waste incident to the disposition of a partially consumed roll by a custodian is eliminated.

We claim:

1. In a dispenser ad-apted to dispense a plurality of rolls of strip material sequentially and to originally maintain one of said rolls in a dispensing position while maintaining another of said rolls in a reserve nondispensing position, at least said one roll in said dispensing position having separable core parts maintained in axial alignment by said strip material, the combination of: a housing adapted to be secured .to a supporting surface; a roll holder on said housing having spaced mandrel means thereon adapted for supporting said rolls; means mounting said roll holder movable between a first position presenting said one roll in said dispensing position and said other roll in said reserve position and a second position presenting said other roll in a dispensing position; latch means operably connected to said roll holder for latching said roll holder in said first position and releasable for movement of said roll holder to said second position; and said mandrel means supporting said one roll including separable generally cylindrical sections normally maintained in substantial axial alignment by said one roll core parts and strip material, each of said mandrel sections supporting one of said core parts over a major portion of said one core part axial length and substantially around the total circumference thereof, means mounting one of said mandrel sections operably connected to said latch means for movement out of said axial alignment with the other of said mandrel sections upon consumption of said one roll strip material causing separation of said one roll core parts to release said latch means and cause movement of said roll holder to said second position presenting said other roll in said other roll dispensing position.

2. A dispenser as defined in claim 1 in which said means mounting said one of said mandrel sections for said movement includes means mounting said one mandrel section at least partially movable axially angularly out of said axial alignment with said other of said mandrel sections.

3. In a dispenser adapted to dispense a plurality of rolls of strip material sequentially and to originally maintain one of said rolls in a dispensing position while maintaining another of said rolls in a reserve nondispensing position, at least said one roll in said dispensing position having separable core parts maintained in axial alignment by said strip material, the combination of: a housing adapted to be secured to a supporting surface; a roll holder on said housing having spaced mandrel means thereon adapted for supporting said rolls; means mounting said roll holder movable between a irst position presenting said one roll in said dispensing position and said other roll in said reserve position and a second position presenting said other roll in a dispensing position; latch means operably connected to said roll holder for latching said roll holder in said first position and releasable for movement of said roll holder to said second position; and said mandrel means supporting said one roll including separable sections normally maintained in normal roll core supporting position by said one roll core parts and strip material, each of said mandrel sections supporting one of said core parts, means mounting one of said mandrel sections operably connected to said latch means for movement out of said normal roll core supporting position relative to the other of said mandrel sections upon consumption of said one roll strip material causing separation of said one roll core parts to release said latch means and cause movement of said roll holder to said second position presenting said other roll in said other roll dispensing position, a carrier forming a part of said means mounting said one mandrel section projecting radially of said one roll and secured to said one mandrel section exactly movable therewith, said carrier having means releasing said latch means upon said movement of said one mandrel section out of said normal roll core supporting position relative to said other mandrel section.

4. In a dispenser adapted to dispense a plurality of rolls of strip material sequentially and to originally maintain one of said rolls in a dispensing position while maintaining another of said rolls in a reserve nondispensing position, at least said one roll in said dispensing position having separable core parts maintained in axial alignment by said strip material, the combination of: a housing adapted to be secured to a supporting surface; a roll holder on said housing having spaced mandrel means thereon adapted for supporting said rolls; means mounting said roll holder movable ibetween a first position presenting said one roll in said dispensing position and said other roll in said reserve position and a second position presenting said other roll in a dispensing position; latch means operably connected to said roll holder for latching said roll holder in said first position and releasable for movement of said roll holder to said second position; and said mandrel means supporting said one roll including separable sections normally maintained in normal roll core supporting position by said one roll core parts and strip material, each of said mandrel sections supporting one of said core parts, means 'mounting one of said mandrel sections on said roll holder operably connected to said latch means for movement out of said normal roll core supporting position relative to the other of said mandrel sections upon consumption of said one roll strip material causing separation of said one roll core parts to release said latch means and cause movement of said roll holder to said second position presenting said other roll in said other roll dispensing position, said one mandrel section being positioned adjacent said roll holder, means projecting through said one mandrel section secured to said roll holder and rigidly supporting said other mandrel section spaced from said roll holder,

5. A dispenser as defined in claim 4 in which said one mandrel section of said mandrel means supporting said one roll is generally cylindrical and axially hollow, said one mandrel section being telescoped over said means rigidly supporting said other mandrel section normally spaced therefrom suicient for said one :mandrel section latch means releasing movement, said means rigidly supporting said other mandrel section including a rigid mounting post.

6. In a dispenser adapted to dispense a plurality of rolls of strip material sequentially and to originally maintain one of said rolls in a dispensing position while maintaining another of said rolls in a reserve nondispensing position, at least said one roll in said dispensing position having separable core parts maintained in axial alignment by said strip material, the combination of: a housing adapted to be secured to a supporting surface; a roll holder on said housing having spaced mandrel means thereon adapted for supporting said rolls; means mounting said roll holder movable between a first position presenting said one roll in said dispensing position and said other roll in said reserve position and a second position presenting said other roll in a dispensing position; latch means operably connected to said roll holder for latching said roll holder in said first position and releasable for movement of said roll holder to said second position; and said mandrel means supporting said one roll including separable sections normally maintained in normal roll core supporting position by said one roll core parts and strip material, each of said mandrel sections supporting one of said core parts, means mounting one of said mandrel sections on said roll holder and operably connected to said latch means for movement out of said normal roll core supporting position relative to the other of said mandrel sections upon consumption of said one roll strip material causing separation of said one roll core parts to release said latch means and cause movement of said roll holder to said second position presenting said other roll in said other roll dispensing position, means forming a part of said means mounting said one mandrel section mounting said one mandrel section for at least partial angular movement relative to said roll holder land said normal roll core supporting position during said one mandrel section movement out of said normal roll core supporting position.

7. A dispenser as defined in claim 6 in which said means mounting said one mandrel section includes a part secured movable with said one mandrel section and projecting from said one mandrel section radially of said one roll, said one mandrel section part forming at least a portion of said operable connection of said one mandrel section to said latch means to release said latch means upon movement of said one mandrel section and cause said movement of said roll holder.

8. A dispenser as defined in claim 6 in which said one mandrel section is cylindrical and axially hollow, said one mandrel section being positioned adjacent said roll holder, said other mandrel section 'being spaced from said roll holder and having a reduced supporting portion extending axially through said one mandrel section secured to said roll holder supporting said other mandrel section on said roll holder, said reduced part of said other mandrel section being spaced from said one mandrel section permitting said one mandrel section movement out of said normal roll core supporting position.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,917,641 7/1933 Fairchild 242-553 3,211,504 10/1965 Bump 242-553 X 3,294,429 12/ 1966 Tucker et al. 242-55.3

GEORGE F. MAUTZ, Primary Examiner. 

